A decade ago,an international company approached farmers in about a dozen villages in Uttar Pradeshs Azamgarh district to cultivate tulsi and other herbs for them,organically. The villagers had their doubts: they would have to switch from their traditional wheat and paddy cultivation and besides,tulsi cultivation without any chemicals was too risky. So they struck a deal: they would grow tulsi organically but in return,they wanted basic services like health and education in their villages. Today,these dozen villages stand out from the others in the districtwith access to free health,sanitation and banking. Makhnu Maurya of Bijoura village in Azamgarh switched to organic tulsi around 10 years ago for Organic India,a global manufacturer of organic products based in Lucknow. The company,which has got around 50 farmers from Bijoura to cultivate tulsi,buys the produce to prepare blends for organic tea and health supplements. Maurya says that initially,the villagers were sceptical. We had heard stories of how big companies talk farmers into cultivating for them and then,run away without buying the produce. But we were proved wrong. Vimal Vishwakarma of Kamhenpur,another village where organic tulsi is grown,too recalls his initial inhibitions. Tulsi grows in our homes and we worship it,but cultivating it was an entirely new concept. Also,when the company said they wanted us to grow tulsi according to their guidelines,we thought it was strangetulsi,we have always known,has no particular technique to grow. But the company managed to convince the farmers about the benefits of growing tulsi. Finally,the farmers of 12 villages agreed to enter into the farming contract but on one condition: the company would have to give them assured returns and also invest in their development of their villages. We were taking a risk and we wanted an assurance for it, says Vishwakarma. Its been 10 years now since the deal was struck. These villages now have health clinics and free medicines,proper sanitation with the company providing support for the construction of toilets and access to banking,with the payment for their produce being deposited to their bank accounts. Also,every village associated with the tulsi cultivation has a clinic where allopath and ayurveda doctors treat villagers for free. Patients also get medicines and herb supplements for free. The social indicators showed a remarkable jump. For instance,in Bijoura and Kamhenpur,the average school dropout was 63 per cent in 1999. Its now around 29 per cent. And while people in neighbouring villages have to wait a week before they get to meet their doctor,in these villages,the doctor drops in twice a day. Maurya says their produce has increased too. The state agriculture department recently conducted a soil test and found that without fertilisers,the land had become more fertile. We had never thought of opening bank accounts and saving money, says Vishwakarma. And all this comes with an assured return for a crop that does not require much labour and training. Maurya says,We get timely payments and through our accounts,we have been able to save money too. Kishen Gupta,the global CEO of the company says,We call such practices ethical farming instead of contract farming. The farmers agreed to our terms and in return,we want to ensure that they lead happy and healthy lifestyles.
